I’ve written so many nice things about Bandon
Dunes and Pacific Dunes that a reader might
wonder “how much are they paying you?” or
“is
there a bad hole on the property?”
The answer to the first question is they pay
me
nothing, but they provide my company with
our
favorite venue. I’ve been fortunate to run the
amateurgolf.com Two Man Links Championship
for over 12 straight years and I’ve introduced
hundreds of satisfied golfers to Bandon Dunes
over that time, while connecting with these
golfers in a meaningful way for both
amateurgolf.com and our sponsors. Before I
describe Bandon Trails, the resort’s third layout
designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, I’ll
answer the “is there a bad hole?” question
with
a story.
One year, about a dozen tournament players
were riding the shuttle to the airport with an
unfamiliar face, who sat quietly most of the
time as the conversation turned to the
controversial 14h hole at Bandon Trails. The
hole is visually stunning, but a stun-gun can
shock your score if you play “hockey” around
the pimple of a green sitting what seems like
hundreds of feet below. (Tournament scores
have ranged from “drive the green, 10 foot
putt
eagle 2 to quadruple bogey best-ball.)
As we basically badmouthed the hole for ten
minutes or more, saying things like “they’ve
got
to fix that crazy green,” or “it ruins an
otherwise
perfect course” and walked off the bus I
noticed
that the distinguished gentleman in the khaki
jacket didn’t have clubs to check.
“Did you ship your clubs FedEx?” I asked.
“No, I was here for the Western Golf
Association
meeting,” replied the man as he held back a
smile.
“You’re Bill Coore, aren’t you?” I stuttered.
“Yup, he replied.”
There wasn’t even a bit of anger in Mr. Coore’s
tone when he explained the 14th hole to me.
“Ben and I knew we were pushing the envelope
when we built that hole,” said Coore, before he
added, “and we can always change it if Mr.
Keiser wants us to.”
Sure enough, that hole (the green and landing
zone) has been softened up a bit to allow for a
bit more room and fewer golf balls being
rejected off the old sliver-thin plateau. A drive
up the left side provides a lot of different
approach options, (including a low running chip
or even putt) while a ball that is pushed to the
right by the left-to-right sloping fairway off
the
tee will still require one of the most challenging
70-yard wedge shots you’ve got in your bag.
And playing “hockey” is still in question. My
foursome played it two under in the most
recent
playing of the tournament.
Bandon Trails has always been about way more
than just the 14th, which is why I’m so glad
they softened it up and changed the
conversation. Players seem to like that change
(as well as lessened severity of the slope
fronting the 15th green and the widening of
the
right side landing area off of No. 18 tee) and I
don’t think there is a more consistently
challenging-but-fair course at Bandon Dunes.
Unlike Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes –
where
the ocean is in view almost all day – Bandon
Trails starts with the A par 3 highlight is the
downhill 2nd hole, where a huge sand dune
flanks the entire right side. Hitting this green is
truly satisfying, especially if the pin is in the
back where going for it requires serious early-
round courage. The 7th, a Pine Valley-esque
uphill hole with a two tiered green requires a
strong drive and precision approach shot, while
the drivable par-4 8th immediately gives you
the chance to regain the shot or two that
could
have vanished on No. 7.
On the back nine, the 11th hole is simply
amazing. The green is nowhere in sight off the
tee. The caddie gives you a line, but somehow
you know the hole drifts right and the desire to
follow the fairway’s contour makes the waste
area much more of an attraction than it should
be. Find it, and it’s not likely that par is the
score you’re writing down. Keep your drive left,
and you will be rewarded with views of a
pristine pond on the right and large, runway-
flat
green surrounded by a stand of pines that
remind some players of Augusta National. The
150-200 yard approach shot isn’t easy to club,
because it looks longer than it actually plays
due to run-out. (All reasons to have a good
caddie, by the way.) Coming home after
birdieing the aforementioned tricky 14th, the
par 5 16th stands out as a downhill, then uphill
monster looking 535 yard hole that can easily
be reached in two by strong players if they
position their drives correctly, and flight their
approach perfectly. But the first time playing
this hole, it looks daunting. Like the rest of
Bandon Trails, it passes one of my big-picture
golf course tests, “after I’ve played it, am I
relishing the chance to have at it again?”
